Ski Resort Review of Fiesch

Little known outside of Switzerland, the resort of Fiesch is located in the canton of Valais, just under 20km north-east of Brig. Fiesch is a real hidden gem, with some great skiing (especially for intermediates), some relatively high slopes, and some amazing views over the Aletsch Glacier UNESCO World Heritage site.

The main resort of Fiesch lies in the valley at an altitude of 1050m, with the Rotten river flowing through it (the river is better known to us as the Rhone, but in this area it's referred to as der Rotten) whilst up above it, connected by cable-car, is Fiescheralp at 2200m, which has a few hotels and is the focal point for the ski slopes and lifts.

Fiescheralp sits on a long ledge above the valley, alongside neighbouring Bettmeralp and Riederalp, and together these three areas form the Aletsch Arena ski area. The skiing around Fiescheralp and the slopes above takes place over a good altitude range, with a very respectable top lift height of 2870m just below the summit of the Eggishorn, although it's worth noting that it's a black run coming down from here. There are plenty of nice wide blues and reds in the area, making it a good choice for beginners through to intermediates. These family-friendly slopes, along with a nice relaxed atmosphere in Fiescheralp and Fiesch, are amongst the reasons why the Swiss Tourism Association has nominated Fiesch as one of its special 27 "Families Welcome" destination resorts.

Fiesch has its own train station, so getting there from the likes of Geneva or Zurich will take just over 3 hours from either. It takes a similar time for those hiring a car from Geneva and driving, or getting a bus, but there is some spectacular scenery through this entire area, so make the most of it if you can and use the fantastic rail system.